From Soft Sanctions to Engagement: The EU’s Evolving Responses to Thailand’s Democratic Openings

After five years of military rule, Thailand witnessed two democratic openings, in 2019–21 and 2023. But several structural challenges hindered progress towards meaningful initiatives to capitalise on these moments of opportunity. These challenges included the ingrained authoritarian structures that have morphed Thailand from a military dictatorship into a form of competitive authoritarianism, elites’ scepticism of perceived western interference in Thailand’s sovereignty, and competing geopolitical priorities. Despite these challenges, Thailand’s current political opening presents the EU with opportunities to strengthen the social and economic foundations necessary for democratic development.